Household Detergent and Nutrient Runoff Law

 

SPRING: Fertilizer and Water Quality Excess fertilizer applied to lawns and gardens wash off and pollute streams.
SUMMER: Summer Car Wash Learn how to wash your car to minimize polluting local water sources.
FALL: Scoop the Poop Clean up after your pet to keep our groundwater safe.
WINTER: Salt and Stormwater De-icers like salt can pollute

Dear Village Residents, Business Owners and Visitors:

 

On March 10, 2003, the Village of Elmsford began the development of its Stormwater Management Plan, mandated by the United States Department of Environmental Protection and administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.   The plan requires that the Village make every effort to improve the water quality of its streams, lakes and rivers. The Village must implement six (6) minimum control measures including educating the public, soliciting participation and involvement of the public, detection and elimination of illicit discharges, control of construction site runoff, maintenance and operation of post construction structural Best Management Practices and pollution prevention and good housekeeping at municipal facilities. 

 

As part of the Villages illicit detection, construction and post construction efforts, grants from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation were received by a consortium of municipalities and work is underway. Scheduled for completion in February 2007, the grants provide for development of legislation and implementation of municipal programs to locate, monitor and eliminate illicit discharges, provide training of Village staff to inspect construction sites to insure compliance with stormwater regulations, train contractors to insure compliance with Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans and develop a program to insure that all stormwater related installations are properly maintained in the future.    

Learn  what you can about improving stormwater quality by visiting the following websites:

 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation  at http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/mainpage.htm,

 

United  States Environmental Protection Agency at

http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/water.html                                          

 

United States Environmental Protection Agency (Stormwater)

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6

 

United States Environmental Protection Agency (publications and information resources)

http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/pubs.html

 

 

Center for Watershed Protection

http://www.cwp.org

 

University of Maryland (bio-retention and rain gardens)

http://www.ence.umd.edu/~apdavis/Bioret.htm

 

Environmental Concerns Inc. (wetland oriented)

http://www.wetland.org

 

Simple steps that residents and businesses can take

to help clean up Village streams, lakes and improve

water quality in the Saw Mill River

 

What is Stormwater Pollution:

 

Stormwater pollution refers to many types of harmful materials that are carried by water (rain water, wash water or snow melt) through the storm drain system to our creeks, lakes and the Saw Mill River.   These pollutants can include: sediments, nutrients, trash, metals, bacteria, oil and grease, phosphorus and organics.

 

Get Involved:

 

Volunteers are needed to assist with waterway and roadside cleanup efforts, beautification projects, storm drain stenciling and neighborhood cleanups.  Put together a group of friends, plan to meet over coffee and help keep trash and other pollutants out of our waters.  Contact the Village’s Stormwater Management Coordinator for  details. 

 

Dispose of Household Products Carefully:

 

Many products under the sink or in the garage can harm water quality.  Never pour paints, preservatives, brush cleaners and solvents down the drain.  Sewers or septic tanks do not treat these materials and they can enter waterways untreated.  Buy a product with the least amount of toxic materials.  Read labels carefully for disposal instructions.  Learn about Westchester County’s Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program.  For information call 914-813-5425 or log onto the County website at http://www.westchestergov.com

 

Care for your lawn cautiously:

 

Lawns with trees and shrubs prevent erosion, soak up nutrients before they run off into waterways, and improve soil by adding organic materials.  Plant the right grass by testing the soil annually.  Use the proper fertilizer, and do not over-fertilize. Improper fertilizing can lead to disease, poor root growth and weed problems.  Water your lawn and shrubs only when it is dry by soaking the soil thoroughly.  If you have a lawn service, make sure it is customized to your needs. 

 

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination:

 

Items which find their way into waterways and storm drains, either by accident or deliberately, decrease water quality and create unsightly conditions.  Carelessly discarded trash, illegal connections of waste water and other products, household chemicals, oil, and nutrients from over fertilization of lawns can be washed into drains when it rains and eventually end up in our waterways.  In 2006, the Village will begin a program to locate and identify discharges from illegal connections which decrease water quality and take enforcement action where appropriate.  If you think your home or business may have an illegal connection to the storm drain, contact the Village’s Stormwater Management Coordinator to learn how to correct the condition.

 

Read about the past waste rules and how they can contaminate the water

 






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